A comparison of two insect collection techniques in oiled and non-oiled salt marshes in Louisiana
Keywords:
Spartina alterniflora, sweep net, insect vacuumAbstract
Insects are important components in coastal marsh ecosystems and can be used as an indicator of marsh health. Collections of insects in coastal marshes are frequently made using either sweep nets or insect vacuums. Differences in these two methods have not been compared within the marsh ecosystem. Therefore, we compared collections made using these methods in oiled and non-oiled marshes along multiple transects on the Louisiana coast. We found that sweep net collections accounted for 600% more individual arthropods and more total insect taxa when compared to the insect vacuum collections. Oiled marshes had higher total insect richness but similar abundance and average richness as non-oiled sites; however, there were some changes in insect community composition between sites. These results indicate that sweep net collections more completely and efficiently sample insects in marsh environments and that oil intrusion can lead to changes in arthropod community structure in coastal marshes.
Key Words: Spartina alterniflora; sweep net; insect vacuum
Resumen
Los insectos son componentes importantes en los ecosistemas de pantanos costeros y se pueden utilizar como un indicador de la salud de los pantanos.
Se hacen recolecciones de insectos en los pantanos costeros con frecuencia utilizando redes de barrido o aspiradoras de insectos. No se han comparado las diferencias en estos 2 métodos dentro del ecosistema de pantano. Por lo tanto, comparamos las recolecciones realizadas utilizando estos métodos en marismas aceitosas y no aceitosas a lo largo de múltiples transectos de la costa de Luisiana. Encontramos que las recolecciones utilizando las redes representaron 5,9 veces más artrópodos individuales y más taxones de insectos totales en comparación con las colecciones hechas por aspiradoras de insectos. Las marismas con aceite tuvieron una mayor riqueza total de insectos pero una abundancia similar y un promedio de riqueza como sitios sin aceite; sin embargo, hubo algunos cambios en la composición de la comunidad de insectos entre los sitios. Estos resultados indican que la recolección de insectos con redes es una manera eficaz para muestrear insectos en ambientes de pantanos y que la intrusión de aceite puede resultar en cambios en la estructura de la comunidad de artrópodos en pantanos costeros.
Palabras Clave: Spartina alterniflora; red de barrido para insectos; aspiradora insectos
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